Kobo adds audiobooks to its iOS and Android apps

Audiobook fans have a new option to comparison shop against. Rakuten Kobo has announced it’s adding audiobooks to its iOS and Android ebook apps, with two ways to buy them: a la carte, or with a $10 per month subscription service that nets you one book per month. The service launches today in Canada, the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand via an update to the apps.

Kobo, which was bought by e-commerce platform Rakuten in 2011, is best known for being one of the only e-reader makers around not named Amazon. But while it doesn’t have the same kind of name recognition, Kobo does have an almost completely global reach. It sells e-readers or ebook services in 190 countries, according to the company, and has a library of 5 million ebooks. The company also offers access to discounted ebooks, and library card compatibility, too.

The new audiobook offering is only coming to the mobile apps, though, so don’t expect to be able to listen to books on any of the company’s e-readers any time soon. Kobo hasn’t said how many books will be available at launch, but you can try out the service for free for 30 days.

[“Source-theverge”]